Join us for a 4th of July celebration on the water!
You've seen fireworks from your lawn chair or picnic blanket, but have you ever been on the water to celebrate USA's birthday? At Island Adventures, we're offering a special 4th of July whale, wildlife, and fireworks cruise out of Anacortes, Washington. The 4-5 hour tour will depart at 5 PM in search of whales and wildlife before sunset, then we'll position ourselves for a front-row view of the fireworks display. Our full menu will be available and features Ivar's Clam Chowder, Beecher's Mac and Cheese, Nathan's hot dogs, nachos, beer, wine, and more!
Due to our reduced capacity, availability for this specialty tour is extremely limited. This tour will sell out quickly, so book now!
All tickets are $125 plus tax/fees
Simply click the button below for the departure below to make reservations! Please note that because this is a specialty tour, any gift certificates purchased for the 4-5 hour Anacortes tour do not apply.
Island Explorer 5
The Island Explorer 5 is simply the best whale watching vessel anywhere.
She is 98' long, 30' wide with a cruise speed of over 25 knots. She is also incredibly quiet which will enhance your whale watching experience. 20+ years of whale watching experience has gone into the design of the Island Explorer 5. She has three full walk-around outside viewing decks with cathedral bow seating that provides more outside viewing area than any tour boat in the region. There are also two large heated cabins with seating for all guests, state of the art A/V system, and large comfortable bathrooms. Onboard guests will enjoy our South of the Border Cafe with hot food, snacks, beer, and wine for sale.
Vessel features:
- Front Row Viewing: Outside rail viewing space on one side of the boat for all guests
- Indoor heated seating for all passengers
- Three viewing decks for the best possible vantage point over the water
- Best galley menu of any tour vessel in the area – fresh and changing with the seasons
- High-speed catamaran with speeds capable of 25+ knots, giving us one of the largest ranges in the industry
- AED onboard with highly trained/qualified staff and crew
Check out our other tours!
Our guaranteed whale watching tours have made us the #1 whale watching company in the Pacific Northwest, but our specialty tours offer a chance to enjoy a few hours on the water. Whether it's a private charter for your corporate retreat or an extended-range trip, we've got a tour for you!
Anacortes
One of the best opportunities to see wild orcas is right here in the San Juan Islands, February through November. The Salish Sea is home to one of the richest varieties of marine life on the planet. There's no better place to view the booming population of Bigg's, or mammal-eating killer whales. In addition to orcas, humpback whales, minke whales, and gray whales are also frequently seen throughout the year.
Extended Range Tour
Experience a full day at sea on our 10-12 hour extended-range tour! This tour's duration enables us to travel deep into the western Strait of Juan de Fuca in search of massive groups of humpback whales. With the additional time on the water, we’ll have the opportunity to venture further than any of our other tours. If you’re used to watching whales in the San Juan Islands, this tour will leave you speechless!
We're serious about finding whales.
Did you know that orcas, humpbacks, gray whales, and minke whales can travel more than 100 miles in a 24 hour period? To increase our chances of seeing whales each day, Island Adventures uses a variety of tools. Over the past 20 years, our spotting network has evolved into the most sophisticated sightings network on the entire west coast. We work with other whale watch vessels, land-based spotters, researchers, dive boats, early morning fishermen, water taxis, tug boats, and ferry boats to help locate whales in the area. If the whales are here, we know it. We understand our guests’ passion to see whales in the wild and it is our mission to fulfill the goal of seeing whales.
On each and every tour, we guarantee that you'll see at least one type of whale (orca, minke, humpback, or gray) or your next tour is 50% off! Many of our guests are passionate about orcas and travel to the Pacific Northwest specifically to see this iconic species. If there are orcas in the region, we make it a priority to view them whenever possible.
Please remember that we cannot control what the whales do or where the whales go each day. What we can give you is the highest possible chance of seeing whales due to our quick vessel speed and convenient departure locations. No company sees whales more than Island Adventures — the proof is in our whale report.
Whale Sighting Records
Our 97% success rate since 2002 speaks for itself. Check out what we've been seeing lately with our daily Whale Report.
- 2023: 244 of 252 tours - 96.8%
- 2022: 282 of 285 tours - 99.4%
- 2021: 311 of 333 tours - 94.3%
- 2020: 206 of 224 tours - 92.0%**
- 2019: 532 of 540 tours - 98.5%
- 2018: 587 of 600 tours - 98.4%
- 2017: 571 of 603 tours - 94.7%
- 2016: 515 of 525 tours - 98.1%
- 2015: 429 of 433 tours - 99.1%
- 2014: 363 of 375 tours - 96.8%
- 2013: 260 of 266 tours - 97.7%
- 2002-2012: 3059 of 3164 tours - 97%
Online Reservations
Make a reservation online with our secure system and receive an immediate email confirmation.
Whale Report
See what we've seen on the water. There's a detailed account from every tour since 2003!
Prepare for your tour
It’s better to be over-prepared than under-prepared. See our tips, suggestions, and frequently asked questions.
Whales and Wildlife
Our goal is to share as much local wildlife, scenery, and history as possible on each and every tour.